Dec. 31, 2016 Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Taylor Peacocke scored a game-high 29 points and No. 23 Western Washington University used a hot start to build a commanding lead en route to an 86-65 victory over visiting Western Oregon University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on Saturday evening at Whatcom Pavilion.
The Vikings improved to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play with their third win in a row while WOU dropped to 5-6 overall and 1-3 in conference action.
WWU never trailed on Saturday, jumping to a quick 7-0 lead. Following the first basket of the game by WOU to make the score 7-2, the Vikings answered with a 9-0 spurt to build a 16-2 advantage with 5:16 to play in the first quarter. Senior guard Jessica Valley (Lafayette, IN/Nova Southeastern) had 6 of the first 9 points for WWU as the Vikings made their first 4 field goals. Peacocke punctuated the early run with the first of her 5 three-pointers in the game for the 16-2 lead.
WWU led 27-6 after the first quarter, opening the game 10-for-22 from the field while holding the Wolves to a 3-for-16 mark from the floor during the first quarter. The 6 points were the third-fewest allowed in a quarter by WWU this season.
The WWU offense continued to roll during the second quarter as the Vikings led by no fewer than 19 points during the period, shooting 44.7% (17-for-38) from the field in the first 20 minutes of the game and taking a 49-24 lead to half.
The Vikings opened their largest lead of the game at 52-24 early in the third quarter. The Wolves cut the lead to 17 points at the end of the third quarter but were unable to come any closer during the final period as WWU held on to a commanding double-digit lead.
Peacocke, who entered the game with a nation-leading 23.0 points-per-game average, was 10-for-18 from the field, including 5-for-9 from long range, and 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Following Saturday's game, Peacocke now has 1,477 career points to move into 5th place on the all-time scoring list at WWU, passing Cim Hanson (1,475 points, 1987-91).
Peacocke balanced her scoring on Saturday with 15 points before halftime and 14 points in the third and fourth quarters, scoring 29 points for the second consecutive game and coming within 3 points of tying her career-point point total. She also added 4 assists.
Senior center Tia Briggs (Tacoma, WA/Wilson) scored 11 points (4-of-7 shooting) while junior forward Hannah Stipanovich (St. Louis, MO/Metro State) contributed 9 points. Valley also finished with 9 points on 4-of-6 shooting and posted a team-high 6 assists. Senior forward Kiana Gandy (Des Moines, WA/Mount Rainier) and freshman guard Lexie Bland (Ellensburg, WA) each added 7 points. All 11 Vikings scored in the game.
Shelby Snook led WOU with 16 points and 6 assists while Sydney Azorr added 14 points. Kaylie Boschma contributed 13 points and 8 rebounds for the Wolves.
WWU finished the game 44.1% (30-for-68) from the field, including 7-for-15 (46.7%) from 3-point range, and went 19-for-26 (73.1%) at the free throw line. WOU finished the game at 37.7% (26-69) from the field, making 6-of-17 3-pointers (35.3%), and going 7-for-10 (70%) at the free throw line.
The Vikings continue the conference schedule on the road next week, traveling to Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, Jan. 5 (6 pm PT/7 pm MT) before facing Central Washington on Saturday, Jan. 7 (5 pm PT).
Game Notes: Taylor Peacocke now has 1,477 career points to move into 5th place on the WWU all-time scoring list, passing Cim Hanson (1,475 points,1987-191)...29 points scored by Peacocke are tied for the 3rd-most in a game for her career, trailing 30 vs. UC San Diego (11/19/16) and 32 at Northwest Nazarene (2/6/16)...The 6 points allowed in the opening quarter were the third-fewest in a quarter by WWU this season (2nd quarter vs. Humboldt State 11/11 - 4 points, 2nd quarter vs. Fresno Pacific 11/12 - 2 points).
